BLM to Gather Input on Trails in McInnis Canyons NCA Front Country

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — If you hike or ride horseback on trails in the portion of McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area around Fruita, the Bureau of Land Management wants to hear from you.

The McInnis Canyons NCA staff will hold an open house to gather input from the public regarding existing trails in Kodels, Devils, Flume and Pollock Canyons, as well as the Opal Hill area. The McInnis Canyons Resource Management Plan, which was completed five years ago, established a designated trail system and determined that the area should be managed for hiking and equestrian recreation. The BLM is now performing a “check-up” on the condition of the trail system as a whole and determining where relocations or rehabilitation is needed to improve sustainability. In addition, the BLM will be looking at ways to enhance accessibility in the area and increase connectivity to other systems, such as the Riverfront Trail and City of Fruita attractions.

The open house to gather comments and suggestions and share possible management directions for the area is scheduled for December 14 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Fruita Civic Center in the Rotary Room.

“The purpose of this meeting is to make sure that we continue to implement our RMP by managing for a sustainable hiking and equestrian trail system in this heavily used area near Fruita,” said Katie Stevens, McInnis Canyons NCA Manager.

“In this case, that means evaluating the system over time and getting ahead of potential problems.” Stevens added that the BLM is not re-opening consideration of other types of recreational use such as mountain biking and motorized recreation in this area.

The meeting will kick off a 30-day formal scoping period. Information from the meeting will be posted on the McInnis Canyons NCA website following the meeting for those not able to attend.

For more information, please contact Gene Arnesen at the BLM’s Grand Junction Field Office, at 970-244-3083 or Gene_Arnesen@blm.gov.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.